As the 2018 crop production season begins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season.

"Each year, the agriculture industry eagerly awaits USDA's Prospective Plantings report, which provides the first survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers' planting intentions for the year," said NASS' North Dakota State Statistician Darin Jantzi. "The March
Agricultural Survey provides the factual data that underpins these projections, making it one of the most important surveys we conduct each year."

NASS will mail the survey questionnaire in February, asking producers to provide information about the types of crops they intend to plant in 2018, how many acres they intend to plant, and the amounts of grain and oilseed stored on their farms. NASS
encourages producers to respond online or by mail. Those producers who do not respond by the deadline may be contacted for a telephone or personal interview. NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that
no individual operation or producer can be identified.

Survey results will be published in the Prospective Plantings and quarterly Grain Stocks report to be released on March 29. For more information call the NASS North Dakota Field Office at 800-582-6443.